Johnson's Provisional Division

On September 18th, 1863, at 4 P.M., Johnson's Provisional Division of Hood's Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson and including Gregg's Brigade under Brigadier General John Gregg, McNair's Brigade under Brigadier General Evander McNair, and Johnson's Brigade under Colonel John S. Fulton, moved from Ringgold at 5 A.M. toward Leet's Tanyard but was soon ordered to countermarch and proceed on the road from Ringgold to Reed's Bridge, force a crossing of the Chickamauga, and move toward the Union left at Lee and Gordon's Mill. Robertson's Brigade of Hood's Division was attached to the column for this movement, and General Forrest joined it with his escort and R. M. Martin's detachment of cavalry. At about 11 A.M. the force encountered Minty's Brigade of Union cavalry at Pea Vine Creek, whose resistance compelled deployment of the Confederate column. At 3 P.M. Confederate infantry forced a crossing at Reed's Bridge, while Forrest, joined by Pegram's Division of Cavalry, crossed at Fowler's Ford a short distance above. At 4 P.M. Johnson's forces advanced to Jay's Mill, where General Hood arrived and took command. The column then proceeded toward Lee and Gordon's Mill by way of Alexander's house and, after sharp skirmishing with Minty's cavalry, Wilder's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, and part of Dick's Brigade of infantry from Van Cleve's Division, Hood's column deployed and bivouacked in the woods about 800 yards east of Viniard's house in close contact with Union forces.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States